On the job dune lessons for students
Heading to the beach in school hours was a huge upside for students working towards a leadership award in Whangamata. A small group of students from Whangamata Area School got their sand shoes on to plant dune-binding plants with assistance from Thamescoromandel District Council as part of the award.
The next project they have their sights set on is a beach rubbish cleanup.
Lexi Meyer, Ella-rose Luke, Pippajane Els-johnson, Richie Pugh, Caleb
Jameson, Zander Manson and Miller Molloy-wright will, over a six-month period, complete several hours of community service, learn a new skill, sustain regular involvement in sport and complete an overnight tramp or similar outdoor experience.
The dune planting was organised by Tanya Patrick, who is the coastal restoration coordinator for Thamescoromandel District Council.
Tanya ensures that the council works alongside the Waikato Regional Council, Department of Conservation, NZ Forest and Bird, iwi and ratepayer groups to protect and restore our coast, through the Coastcare programme.
She arrived with a TCDC ute and trailer packed full of hundreds of New Zealand native dune plants and instructed students how best to plant
the Spinifex and Pingao plant species and how dune plants work to trap wind-blown sand, keeping the sand on the ground and reducing erosion risk.
Once briefed, the students cracked on with the job. They were ably assisted by parent helpers and younger siblings Rochelle Jameson, Rachel Luke, Brendon Pugh, Sarah Els and Andy Thrush.
“Many hands make light work and that was true for this group who managed to plant almost 1000 native plants in under two hours, just as the rain came down,” says Year 7 and 8 teacher Nicky Phillips.
“They also weeded some existing planted areas near beach access 15, recognising that maintenance is equally as important as the initial planting.”